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Patrick Semansky / AP
Inmate John Barba works with Dill, a veteran assistance dog in training, at Western Correctional Institution in Cresaptown, Md. Dill is one of three dogs assigned since September to inmates at the maximum-security prison for basic training as service dogs for disabled military veterans.
The Associated Press reports from Cresaptown, Md. — Hazard Wilson's new cellmate is a hairy bundle of energy whose playful zeal can't be contained by steel doors: a five-month-old golden retriever. Yardley is one of three canines assigned since September to inmates at a maximum-security prison in western Maryland for training as service dogs for disabled military veterans.
The number of programs nationwide using inmates to train service dogs is growing, but the program at Western Correctional Institute might be the first to use incarcerated veterans to train dogs for other veterans.
Patrick Semansky / AP
Dill looks on as inmate John Barba walks away after commanding him to sit and stay. The inmates, who are also veterans, are among the state's first prisoners to join a national trend of training service dogs in correctional institutions.
Professional trainers say prison-raised dogs tend to do better than those raised traditionally in foster homes, because puppies respond well to consistency and rigid schedules. That's just what they get in prison.
Patrick Semansky / AP
John Barba looks at a calendar as he sits in the 6-by-9-foot cell that he shares with Dill, a veteran assistance dog in training.
Wilson, a former military police officer honorably discharged in 1982, said he's proud to help another veteran.
"I feel as though they don't get what they deserve when they come home," he said. "This is a part of why I do what I do." Read the full story.
Editor's note: Images taken on Nov. 26, 2012 and made available to NBC News today.
Patrick Semansky / AP
John Barba walks out of his cell with Dill. Professional trainers say prison-raised dogs tend to graduate sooner and at higher rates than those raised traditionally in foster homes because puppies respond well to the consistency and rigid schedules of prison life.
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Perfect set up. The prisoners have tons of time to get it right and the dogs will be trained free of expense. It will also give new meaning to life for anyone connected to these dogs.
Excellent !!
Whatever works.
Sounds like a win-win-win - for humans and dogs !!
This is an amazing program that benefits both the inmate and the dog. Saving both human and canine lives.
There should be no dogs or cats killed in shelters. We should expand this program and utilize prisoners for caring for and training pets that have no homes. For many inmates - they've never really had the opportunity to love and care for anything or anyone. This opens a whole new door in their lives, and saves an innocent pet in the process.
For some of these inmates, a dog is the closest thing they will ever get to unconditional acceptable and love. I don't care if they are messy, stinky, loud, poop everywhere, untrained, etc. If only people could love each other like dogs love people the world would be a much better place.
The world would be a much better place if people could love each other like dogs love people? This coming from the guy who just said:
"nobody cares about your stupid views on alcohol fatty."
Joe,
That's the first comment you have ever made that I agree with, and that hasn't been an arrogant self centered put down of humanity and life in general.
While I know it won't last, you've made my day.
In Colorado, you can send your pet through the program, it's not just for service dogs. Both of my dogs went through the program and I thought that the inmates did a wonderful job with them. It also teaches the inmate how to nurture and learn responsibility. The program is wonderful.
I adopted my dog through a pups on parole program as well and he is truly one of the best behaved dogs I've had (within limits!). As Joe said above, this is about as close as the inmates get to the true meaning of love.
I've been advocating for schools to get a teacher/trainer as part of a vocational program for students interested in doing this type of thing.
They could make money for the school and keep the interest of students not suited for academics. Dogs can be trained for all types of things. Even training them for basic obedience to just sit, stay, down, walk on a leash, would bring in revenue for schools.
The prison programs can train them to detect firearms as well. This has been a wasted resource for a long time.
This program benefits both the inmate and the dog. Saving canine lives and give the inmates a chance to see the softer side that we all have inside. This also helps with the large demand for service dogs.
An assistance dog,service dog,assist people that undergoes a lot of training to assist people suffering from disabilities – mental and physical. They can also be a best friend for people with severe depression. Service dogs can be specifically trained by service dog organization to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability.
A program that benefits both the inmate and the possible service dog or therapy dog. Saving canine lives and some inmates,may find a dogs unconditional acceptable and love may bring a change to their lives which nothing else can. The inmate can do some good for someone they have never met.
Only 10% of all dogs trained become service dogs it can take up to 2 years to train a service dog. At any time a dog in training may not pass a test that makes or brakes them.
Service dogs can also be great for PTSD. Recently read this article, had no idea service dogs were being used in this way!
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